8th June
We’ve been filming a lot of insects getting out of their skins lately; cockroaches, spiders, dragonflies, butterflies and this firebug
The most astonishing transformation to my eyes has been the bluebottle. The boys have been fighting over who gets to go down to the dead badger in the orchard, filming the arrival of flies, the laying of eggs and the resulting maggots*.
We took the maggots that dropped off the badger to the studio to film them pupate and then emerge as a fresh new fly.
You might not want to scroll down any further if you’re eating your dinner...
A set was ready in the studio; a fox carcass placed on a tray of earth with a few leaves scattered around (set-dressing – creating a mood). The maggots were placed on the set - we did have to pick them up off the floor as they kept wriggling off. But many of them did make a brown shell.
Then an amazing thing happens - the pupa cracks a little, a white balloon is inflated from the inside forcing the pupa to crack open further until it splits revealing a damp and naked-looking fly with enormous eyelashes.
*we are thinking of rebranding maggots as fly caterpillars – would that make them more popular?
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I'd like to be impressed in a non squeamish way, but this makes me feel slightly queasy. I have the image of the insect equivalent of Betty Boop now that you mentioned the eyelashes.
ReplyDeleteBetty Boop! - exactly.
ReplyDeleteYou'd be amazed at what I can be impressed by these days!
i knew it was coming, but i couldn't bring myself to stop scrolling down and reading...*swooning* (ok, now i am officially ill!) xooxox
ReplyDeleteHmmm. How come there's so many dead foxes and badgers around? Or is this a France thing...they're just there to be picked up by itinerant filmmakers?
ReplyDeleteFantastic photo. Thanks!
Moo!
"creating a mood"
ReplyDeleteBrilliant, Miss Lulu!
Sorry Sav - I did try and warn you - pretty pictures next time - I promise
ReplyDeleteWe do have a lot of wildlife all out there getting run over, eating each other or just falling down dead. Is there not any wildlife on your islands Mrs Cow ?
It's not just about lighting and putting a record on XL - more effort is often needed.
I like the firebugs!!!
ReplyDeleteHave you tried Barry White?
ReplyDeleteRebranding maggots as "fly caterpillars" could make them more popular; and you good also rebrand cockroaches as "knob ends" ("roach" is the end of a spliff, other bit is self-explanatory...)
ReplyDeleteEric - not so keen on the fly then?
ReplyDeleteMJ Have you tried Barry White?
What as?
Gadj - Would "knob ends" make the roaches more popular? I think 'willy fish' could work.
I like the firebug.
ReplyDeleteI shall never quite look at a Betty Boop cartoon quite the same way again...
Me neither Kevin - firebugs are very funny creatures, they are spending their time pushing the seeds from the lime tree around.
ReplyDeleteWhy do I see a pair of white underpants?
ReplyDeleteSx
Cow has never seen a dead badger or fox in her area.
ReplyDeleteMaybe she's just not looking closely enough though (shudder)
Moo!
Those pics could gag a maggot.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteScarlet - You see a pair of white underpants because that's what it looks like
ReplyDeleteMrs Cow - Maybe that's because you're a vegetarian - or even a leafitarian!
bb - I didn't have you down as the queasy type
Actually I take that back Mrs Cow - I can't imagine that you self-harm
ReplyDeleteJust popping in and catching up. Can't wait until your roadkill contains the odd armadillo. xxxx
ReplyDeleteDo you ever feel like you're filming what the end of the world will look like?
ReplyDeleteJoey jojojojo - I'd love o see an armadillo maybe one'll turn up in the next job.
ReplyDeleteRed - do you think the end of the world will look like underpants?